Life Support Cutoff Looms for Brain Dead California Teen

December 30, 2013

(OAKLAND, Calif.) — Time is running out for the family of a brain dead California teenager as it scrambles to find a facility to take her before the court order keeping her on life support expires Monday.

Jahi McMath, 13, was declared brain dead following a surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids on Dec. 9.

An Oakland judge ruled last week that the hospital could remove Jahi from life support only after the family had time to appeal or make other arraignments.

Despite multiple doctors agreeing that Jahi is brain dead, her family has battled the Children’s Hospital Oakland to keep her on life support.

Doug Straus, an attorney for Children’s Hospital Oakland, said the hospital had not been contacted by any facilities seeking to make arrangements for transferring Jahi, according to a statement posted on its website Sunday afternoon.

Jahi’s mother, Latasha Nailah Winkfield, has vowed not to give up the fight.

An online fundraiser she started last week has gathered more than $22,000 in donations to help cover Jahi’s medical and transportation costs, if only the family can find a facility to take her.

“We still have a chance at one more facility,” she wrote, “so let us all pray.”